A former Sheriff, arrested for the possible distribution of methamphetamine, is being held in a County jail that was named after him, as investigated and reported by CBS4 Denver.
Sheriff P.J.S. Jr., 68, retired in 2002 from the Arapahoe County and had since been working for Cherry Creek Schools as their director of safety and security. In his career as a sheriff P.J.S. Jr. had a stellar record. He was nationally recognized a year before his retirement as "Sheriff of the Year" by the National Sheriff Association.
Earlier this November an investigation was underway due to allegations by numerous informants, made to law enforcement personnel, that P.J.S. Jr. was connected to trafficking the controlled substance, methamphetamine.
Authorities have said that, during the course of their investigation, P.J.S. Jr. had agreed to meet a male informant – to provide the man with drugs in exchange for sex. At that time South Metro Drug Task Force investigators arrested P.J.S. Jr.
At press time P.J.S. Jr. was being held on $250,000 bond in the P.J.S. Jr. Detention Facility – the jail is ironically, and unpredictably, housing its own namesake.
The current sheriff for Arapahoe County, G.R., told reporters, "The allegations of criminal behavior involving (P.J.S. Jr.) are extraordinarily disturbing. While the arrest of the former sheriff is very troubling, no one, and particularly a former peace officer, is above the law. This is the most shocking thing I've ever been involved with. This is a very sad time for the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office and our community."
Also uncovered by investigators for CBS4: P.J.S. Jr. has posted bond, for suspects in drug cases, several times in different jails. And, in 2007 and 2008, he was actively participating in state and local methamphetamine task forces. One of his duties was to create a plan for the state to deal with issues relating to methamphetamine.
When P.J.S. Jr. retired the Rocky Mountain News published a laundry list of his accolades, they called him: "Dedicated. Loyal. Available. Protector. High Achiever. Medal of Valor Winner. Hero."
P.J.S. Jr. was also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of School Resource Officers, NASRO, in 2002. C.L., then executive director at NASRO, had said to the former sheriff, "You are not only committed to the SRO concept, but have truly spent your entire career making every effort to keep children safe."
P.J.S. Jr. began his career in laws enforcement in 1962. He started as a Littleton police officer and dispatcher. Later, in 1979, he joined the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office working as both a captain and patrol division officer. By 1983 he was named undersheriff, and six months later, he was given their highest-ranking position.
His career was noticed by then president Bill Clinton, who appointed him to the National Commission on Crime Prevention and Control in 1995. From there he went on to act as a consultant to the US. House Subcommittee on Crime and serve for two affiliate advisory councils under the Department of Justice.
If you have been charged with a crime, and are rightly concerned about your defense and the possibility of jail time, contact a criminal defense attorneyright away. The proper representation is vital to your case.
